Reasons to go for thulium-based anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate

Abstract

Purpose: To summarize the current evidence and the reasons to go for thulium-based anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (AEEP).

Methods: This review discusses the available literature on thulium-based AEEP.

Results: Thulium lasers operate at a wavelength between 1940 and 2013 nm. This wavelength, which has a low penetration depth in water, allows to perform smooth cuts in the prostatic tissue and allows urologists to perform various procedures: resection, vaporization, enucleation, or vapoenucleation of the prostate. Depending on the type of thulium laser, it can be used either in a continuous, or pulsed mode.

Conclusion: In recent years, an increasing amount of evidence has described the thulium laser as a minimally invasive and size-independent treatment option for benign prostatic enlargement with excellent long-term results.

Keywords: BPO; Enucleation; Laser surgery; ThuLEP; ThuVEP; Thulium laser.